BLT Manual

CONSENSUS BUILDING

Effective teams thrive on consensus building, which leverages the diverse perspectives and expertise of team members to reach consensus and make well informed decisions. This approach not only enhances the quality of decisions but also fosters a sense of ownership and commitment among team members. Various consensus making protocols facilitate this collaborative process, ensuring that every voice is heard and that the team arrives at the best possible outcome. Here are several protocols that may be used to reach consensus:

Name

Protocol

Benefits

Individual idea generation in silence. Round-robin sharing of ideas without discussion. Group discussion to clarify and evaluate ideas. Identifying common ground and areas of disagreement. Prioritize proposed solutions. Modifying proposals to address concerns and reach a collective agreement. White Hat: Focuses on data and facts. Red Hat: Considers emotions and gut feelings. Black Hat: Identifies potential problems and risks. Yellow Hat: Explores benefits and positive outcomes. Green Hat: Looks for creative solutions and alternatives. Blue Hat: Manages the thinking process and ensures all perspectives are considered. Brainstorm all possible options. Team members are given a set number of votes to distribute among the options. (e.g. allow use of small post its or stickers to anonymously vote for options) Options with the most votes are prioritized for further discussion or implementation. Team members to look at a decision from six distinct perspectives (hats):

Encourages creativity and innovation. Ensures that all team members have the opportunity to contribute. Helps in identifying a wide range of potential solutions.

Consensus Brainstorming

Encourages comprehensive exploration of the problem. Helps in balancing emotional and logical aspects of decision-making. Promotes creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

Six Thinking Hats

Efficiently narrows down a large list of options. provides a clear visual representation of preferences. Facilitates quick decision-making in large groups.

Multi-voting